Europe is short of natural gas - dangerously short. A cold winter could mean a severe crisis, with both rising utility bills, putting people under strain and complicating the economy's recovery from the pandemic.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has promised to help fill European gas storage facilities, but supply shortages and political tensions continue to rock energy markets, keeping prices high. This, in turn, impacts businesses, which are forced to pass the increased costs on to bills, causing them to rise further.

Moscow is being accused of exploiting the unstable situation to influence a faster "start-up" of the newly built Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline (currently awaiting approval from the German regulator), which is being criticised by Ukraine and the US.